Hoopsgiving Classic is an all-day, star-filled event for area fans

Cy Lakes’ De’Aaron Fox is one of the state’s top point guards. (J. Patric Schneider/For the Chronicle)

The Thanksgiving break is a lot more than just a few days away from school. If your mind is already into basketball season – or you just want something else to do before the weekend’s football region semifinals – the Hoopsgiving Classic will give fans a full day of key matchups and top teams to watch.

Second Baptist will play host to all seven games starting at 11:30 a.m. The day features Greater Houston’s top seniors, juniors and sophomores, according to Jim Hicks, the founder and editor of the basketball website Rcssports.com. There’s a strong chance Texas could have as many as five McDonald’s All-Americans in the spring, three of which will play throughout the day.

There could also a preview of the Class 3A state final with Yates, last season’s runner-up, and Dallas Triple A Academy, which moved up after winning the 1A Division I crown last year.

Tickets are $10. Here a look at all seven games:

Cypress Lakes vs. North Richland Hills Richland, 11:30 a.m.

Marquee matchup: Two of the state’s top point guards will be on display. On one side is Cy Lakes’ De’Aaron Fox, a 6-3 scorer ranked as Greater Houston’s No. 1 sophomore. On the other side is Richland senior Hayden Hunter, a Weber State commit who averaged 14 points per game last season.

What else to look out for: Richland will have a height advantage, but Cy Lakes’ advantage will likely come from its talented backcourt. Nick Garth, the area’s 16th-ranked junior, has started on varsity since his freshman year and has plenty of on-court chemistry with Fox.

Kinkaid vs. Atascocita, 1 p.m.

Marquee matchup: The first of many top-10 meetings Wednesday starts with Greater Houston’s third- and ninth-ranked seniors. No. 3 is Atascocita’s Joseph Burton, an Oklahoma State signee who can score inside and out. Kinkaid’s Jeff Roberson is the area’s top unsigned senior, which means he’s sometimes overshadowed but extremely talented.

What else to look out for: Youth will also be served – at least when it comes to Atascocita. The Eagles have one of the area’s top sophomore groups which includes the 6-6 Nick Mason, Greg Shead, Carsen Edwards and Brandon Loville.

Beaumont Ozen vs. Bush, 2:30 p.m.

Marquee matchup: Ozen is considered a Class 4A contender and has an 11-member senior class to make that happen. The x-factor is Jordan Hunter, 6-0 guard ranked as for the fifth-best junior in Greater Houston. Bush has the same traits – the Broncos are favored in 5A and have its main cog in eighth-ranked senior Brandon Jones.

What else to look out for: This Bush squad won’t be the team we’re expected to see in late February. The football team reached the second round of the playoffs, so players like Ronald and Donald Monroe are just now getting back on the court.

Beaumont Central vs. Bellaire, 4 p.m.

Marquee matchup: These two could meet again next year as well. Christian James, a 6-5 forward, is the area’s top junior and is a big reason why the Cardinals could find themselves back at the region tournament. The 6-7 E’Torrion Wilridge nearly left Beaumont Central for a prep school in Virginia, but remains and is the No. 3 junior.

What else to look out for: Bellaire’s football season ended in the first round of the playoffs, so the Cardinals should be in full gear. Central is junior laden (seven total) so the Jaguars could still be a year away from being the dominant team people expect.

Marquee matchup: The host school has one of the area’s top players in Ty Dalton, a 6-4 junior guard. He’ll likely draw the assignment of guarding HCYA’s Justin Jackson, the area’s second-ranked senior and a North Carolina signee. Jackson is a scoring machine who went point for point with St. John’s Justise Winslow in the event last year.

What else to look out for: If it becomes a numbers game, Second Baptist does have twice as many players as the Warriors. But HCYA, despite a first-year head coach, has talent. Freshman Jacobi Gordon could be the program’s next star.

Dallas Prime Prep vs. St. John’s, 7 p.m.

Marquee matchup: The game has been a year in the making. At one point, Prime Prep’s Emmanuel Mudiay and St. John’s Justise Winslow were considered the top two players in their class in Texas. Rankings have changed since, but Mudiay (SMU signee) and Winslow (Duke) are All-Americans in the making.

What else to look out for: Chances are Prime Prep is a heavy favorite. The team is deeper, taller and has competed and won games against the nation’s best. St. John’s, like Bellaire and Bush, has its football players in the fold.

Yates vs. Dallas Triple A Academy, 8:30 p.m.

Marquee matchup: Unlike the other six games, the classic’s finale isn’t about two highly-ranked players. This could be a preview of this season’s Class 3A state championship game. Yates was the 3A runner-up a year ago, while Triple A Academy cruised to the 1A Div. I title, only to force a rule chance in the UIL concerning charter schools.

What else to look out for: There isn’t a lack of star power. Yates’ strength is with its size – JC Washington (6-7) is a double-double machine, while the the 6-8 Melvin Swift is a force. Triple A Academy counters with guards Jeremiah Jefferson (a Weber State signee) and King McClure (a nationally-ranked junior).